Why does RIG failure happen ?
As we learned in the previous blog about Rig Maintenance And Safety today we are going to tackle a few points about the rig part that can get a tear or damage; however regular maintenance and inspection must be done for each rig .
Also take into consideration that is selection with most parts that can be a source failure, however every part must receive equal attention while doing inspection and In addition to a detailed inspection of the rig before or after the season, in-between checks are just as important for ensuring safety on board. It only takes a few minutes to walk around the deck yourself to inspect a section of the mast, the bolts or even split pins.
What are the source of tear in the rigs ?
- Corrosion (e.g. electrolytic corrosion of various materials such as steel and aluminum; the more humid and saltier the air, the greater the risk of corrosion)
- Heavy loads on the standing rigging
- Incorrect assembly and defective connections
Foresails can become twisted in the furling system and this creates a heavy load on the forestay.and causing the individual strands to start to break. The tensioner, the wire and bearings within the furling system should therefore be checked more often – even if dismantling it is not easy.
BOOM STRAPS
Are made of bolt and screw to connect the spreader to the mast and must be connected in the right place and if the connection is not secured a crack can appear and Corrosion can also happened if the spreader is not maintained on a regular basis .
MAST
The Mast itself can cause wear and the tear in the rig itself , a small dent can even affect the strength of the mast or even corrosion .
HOLDING PLATES
The side of the mast is supported by the plates however today they are hooked in the mast and supported by screws and you need to check to make sure that the plates did not move from its place.
BOLTS
Bolts are too small to cause damage in the base but the bolts themselves can be damaged with connection parts and The connection of the bolts to the terminal should be regularly separated and checked and inspected for any damage or corrosion and by cleaning and polishing the bolts will highlight the damage .
SPLINTE
Bent ring pins and non-spread pins can lead to the bolt falling out and thus, important connections can become loose.
Tips:
- Avoid using ring pins where sheets or mooring lines are likely to come into regular contact. Footwear and bags, etc. can also bend the ring pin open.
- Split pins should always be taped to prevent them from bending open and/or falling out.
- Split pins should not be used more than once, as the material becomes weak when they are bent up and down frequently.
FORK TERMINAL
If the fork slipped out bolts due to any safety catch, then the terminal bends up and detaches from the chainplate.
SHROUD AND JIB
If the Shroud is not loosened correctly, then faults such as kinks in the wire can be created and the damage could occur and you will need to change it .
TERMINAL
A terminal can bend and get warped under load. It is important to pay attention to its original shape and, if in doubt, compare it with the other terminals. T-terminals are particularly susceptible to bending between the terminal and the T-bar, so you should examine those closely.
TURNBUCKLES
The shroud turnbuckles are fitted at the beginning of the season, the threads must be cleaned and greased so that they run smoothly. When installed, they must then be secured against turning.
Conclusion
Today we have concluded that these parts get the most tear and wear in the rigs, however you should be your own judge in the situation when you are doing inspection and see which parts have any dents or damage that need to be changed to ensure safety precautions are taken to minimize any risk of any accident and stay tuned for our next blog about the most famous rig accidents in history.